Grace Empowerment Alpha Course

Grace Empowerment Alpha Course is a chance to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal online environment. Come and see.

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09/05/2026

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Quiet Time with the Lord
172: Meeting the Need

In Luke 5, Jesus healed a man covered with leprosy. He ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them” (Luke 5:14, NIV).

Jesus had compassion on the man by cleansing him of his leprosy and instructing him to be examined by the priest so that he could return to a normal life without being isolated from other people.

While I was visiting Cusco, Peru, our tour guide told me that his mother tongue is Spanish and that he learned English so that he could become a tour guide. He is now teaching himself Italian and French. I asked him whether he was interested in learning Chinese. I also took this opportunity to introduce my free Android app, SpiritFormed: Daily Verse of the Bible, which sends users a daily scripture related to the Fruit of the Spirit to help them learn about love, joy, peace, and self-control. The app supports five languages: English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Thai.

After returning to the United States, I noticed that two people in Peru had downloaded the SpiritFormed app. I was very excited, and I prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide them to build godly character through daily study of Scripture.

Prayer
Dear God, thank You for giving me the opportunity to introduce the SpiritFormed app to the Peruvian tour guide. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide him, meet his needs, and help him come to know You more each day. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Download the FREE, ad-free **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** from the Google Play Store today and begin documenting your journey of spiritual transformation—one verse, one prayer, and one faithful step at a time. (English, 中文简体, 中文繁體, Español, ไทย)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18PF3M1WC2/
08/28/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18PF3M1WC2/

Quiet Time with the Lord
171: Pray for Great Boldness

Apostles Peter and John healed the lame beggar sitting at the temple gate called Beautiful. The rulers, elders, and teachers of the law arrested Peter and John and put them in jail for one night. Then they threatened them and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John refused and returned to their own people to pray together:

“Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ... Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
(Acts 4:24–30, NIV)

If I were one of the apostles, I would have been scared to death. Thank You, God, for giving boldness and faithfulness to the apostles and disciples so they could follow the Great Commission of Jesus:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18–20, NIV)

Because of the diligent work of the apostles and disciples, I have become a follower of Jesus Christ. This is a miracle.

Dear God: Please give great boldness to our church elders, Sunday school teachers, Friday fellowship leaders, brothers, and sisters to spread Your gospel and do great things for You in our local community and among our neighbors. May they receive the rich blessings and eternal life found in You. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Download the FREE, ad-free **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** from the Google Play Store today and begin documenting your journey of spiritual transformation—one verse, one prayer, and one faithful step at a time. (English, 中文简体, 中文繁體, Español, ไทย)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F8vCrkAtd/
08/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F8vCrkAtd/

Quiet Time with the Lord
170: Repent and Live

After Peter and John healed the lame beggar who had been sitting at the Temple Gate called Beautiful every day since he was young, the people were amazed to see ordinary men perform such a miracle before their eyes. Peter pointed out their sin in crucifying Jesus, the servant of God. He testified that it was by the mighty name of Jesus Christ that the lame man was healed—enabling him to walk, jump, and praise the Lord in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.

It must have been a very frightening moment to realize that they were guilty of putting an innocent man, Jesus Christ, to death. Peter reminded them of the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Though they had acted in ignorance before, they now needed to deal with the guilt of their sin. How?

Peter exhorted: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ... For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’” (Acts 3:19–22, NIV)

Praise the Lord. God provides a way for people to change their lives—from sinners to becoming sons and daughters of God. What wonderful grace and mercy!

Come, do not wait. Jesus preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17) Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Come—what are you waiting for? There is no greater good news than the coming of Jesus Christ.

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus Christ and for His blood that cleanses our sinful thoughts. Without His cleansing, I would not be able to come to You and call You my Heavenly Father. Now I can rest and follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, drawing closer to You step by step. Praise the Lord. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Download the FREE, ad-free **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** from the Google Play Store today and begin documenting your journey of spiritual transformation—one verse, one prayer, and one faithful step at a time. (English, 中文简体, 中文繁體, Español, ไทย)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BzfByVHb8/
08/13/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BzfByVHb8/

Quiet Time with the Lord

168: God Remains Forever

In Psalm 102:

“Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: ‘The Lord looked down from His sanctuary on high, from heaven He viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death... In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain... But You remain the same, and Your years will never end. The children of Your servants will live in Your presence; their descendants will be established before You.’” (Psalm 102:19–28, NIV)

The psalmist wanted future generations to know that God remains forever. He created the heavens and the earth, and He is eternal. He cares for His people, pays attention to their suffering and challenges, and opens doors to bring them freedom. Just as He did for the Israelites, He heard their cries and appointed the prophet Moses to lead them out of Egypt into the Promised Land, giving them a life of freedom.

When I reflect on the ups and downs of my life, I see how God has led and guided me, walking with me through dark valleys and bringing me into open fields beside quiet waters. He has never forgotten me and has blessed my family with daughters who bring great laughter and happiness into our lives. I trust that God will continue to bless my family with future generations and that I will see His hand protecting us.

Dear God,

Thank You for keeping me and my family under Your wings. You protect us so that we are not harmed by the scorching sun. You give us Your Word to comfort us and lead us according to Your purpose, so that we may enjoy Your presence. I exalt Your name on high. May Your name be glorified.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Download the FREE, ad-free **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** from the Google Play Store today and begin documenting your journey of spiritual transformation—one verse, one prayer, and one faithful step at a time. (English, 中文简体, 中文繁體, Español, ไทย)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E8g2htVXd/
08/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E8g2htVXd/

Quiet Time with the Lord
167: Because He Lives

In Mark chapter 16:

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.’” (Mark 16:1–6, NIV)

Because Jesus lives, it changes my life completely:

When I face challenges in my life, I have the boldness to face difficulties by believing that Jesus is God. He knows what is best for my life. During hard times, He helps me build endurance and draw closer to God. This allows me to be humble and put my trust in Him.

I acknowledge that I am made from dust, and it is God’s breath within me that gives me life, so that I may praise Him and call Him my Heavenly Father through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Because of this, I have hope to face tomorrow and eternity.

Jesus is the begotten Son of God. He came to give us a perfect example of how to speak and care for others. This leads me to reflect on what Jesus would do and to follow in His footsteps.

Jesus is risen. This gives me hope that He will return and raise me up to be with Him in heaven, where we will live with Him forever. There will be no tears, no sickness, and no sorrow. We will live joyfully with God forever.

Dear God, thank You for giving Your begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the world, and for raising Him three days after His crucifixion. Thank You for giving us the hope that one day we will be raised by Jesus to be with You eternally. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Download the FREE, ad-free **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** from the Google Play Store today and begin documenting your journey of spiritual transformation—one verse, one prayer, and one faithful step at a time. (English, 中文简体, 中文繁體, Español, ไทย)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EHT1SGY7K/
07/29/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EHT1SGY7K/

SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer
009 Self-Control: Keep Quiet

The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah:

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7, NIV)

If I am oppressed by others, I become very angry and cry out loudly. I do not want my oppressors to go unpunished, and I am tempted to curse them. It is almost impossible for me to keep quiet and remain silent.

Yet, when Jesus Christ faced crucifixion and endured the injustice and cruelty of the chief priests, Sadducees, Pharisees, Roman soldiers, and Pilate, He remained silent and submitted Himself to the Father's will.

Instead of condemning those who persecuted Him, Jesus prayed:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Dear God, please transform my heart so that I may have the self-control to do Your will. Help me to remain silent when I am wrongly treated, and give me the grace to forgive those who have wronged me. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Download SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer today and begin documenting your journey of spiritual transformation—one verse, one prayer, and one faithful step at a time. (English, 中文简体, 中文繁體, Español, ไทย)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1S6YqQv1wY/
07/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1S6YqQv1wY/

Quite Time with the Lord
166: SpiritFormed — A Journey of Faith and Code
My First Year of Retirement

During retirement, I have come to realize that very little is actually under my control. I thank God that I can depend on Him completely; truly, I have no better choice.

To build my self-confidence, I decided to design and develop an Android app called SpiritFormed: Daily Bible Verse. To bring this vision to life, I learned how to interface with AI, providing it with feature requirements to generate the necessary source code. I then stepped into the role of software integrator—assembling the components, compiling, debugging, and testing the app. A core part of this project involved manually adding 720 scriptures related to the Fruit of the Holy Spirit to the database. I also utilized Google Translate to localize the interface into four languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, and Thai.

After eight months of dedicated work—from July 2025 to March 2026—it was finally time to release the app. To my surprise, I discovered that Google requires independent developers to recruit 20 testers for a 14-day closed testing period. This has been a deeply humbling experience; I have had to reach out to family, relatives, church members, Toastmasters colleagues, friends, and former classmates to ask if they have an Android device and would be willing to help.

I trust that God is using this process to mold me into a more humble person, conforming me more closely to the image of Jesus.

A Request for Prayer
Please pray that God provides a smooth closed testing phase for the SpiritFormed app, so that it may eventually reach those who need it most.

I have always aspired to be a missionary and translate the Bible. Although I feel my writing skills are limited, I thank God that I can use my software engineering background to build this scripture tool. In God's kingdom, He gives different spiritual gifts to each of us, and I am joyful that I can contribute in my own way.

This is the story of my first year of retirement. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me next.

Stay tuned!

Download **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** today and begin documenting your journey of spiritual transformation—one verse, one prayer, and one faithful step at a time. (English, 中文简体, 中文繁體, Español, ไทย)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed



https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BtDanZ7aP/
07/14/2026

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**SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** is designed to help Christians grow in Christlike character by cultivating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in everyday life.

Whether you are beginning your day with God or ending it in reflection, SpiritFormed serves as your personal companion for Bible reading, prayer, and spiritual growth.

**Features include:**
• Daily Bible verses focused on the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
• Daily prayers to deepen your relationship with God.
• Personal reflection journal to record what God is teaching you.
• Action plans to help apply Scripture in daily life.
• Favorite verses and reflections for easy access.
• Daily notifications to encourage consistent time with God.
• Audio playback for listening to Scripture.
• Available in English, Spanish, Thai, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

SpiritFormed provides the biblical foundation and practical tools to help you grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control through regular study, prayer, reflection, and obedience to God's Word.

Download **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** today and begin documenting your journey of spiritual transformation—one verse, one prayer, and one faithful step at a time. (English, 中文简体, 中文繁體, Español, ไทย)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17vruAS8JX/
07/13/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17vruAS8JX/

📢 **New Feature in SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer: Prayer & Action**

Reading God's Word is only the beginning. Living it out is where spiritual growth takes place.

The latest version of **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** now includes **Prayer & Action**, a new feature that helps you respond to each daily Bible verse in two practical ways:

🙏 **Prayer** – Pray through the day's Scripture and invite God to transform your heart.

✅ **Action** – Take one simple, practical step to apply God's Word in your daily life.

Each day, you'll move through four simple steps:

📖 Read God's Word
🙏 Pray
📝 Reflect
✅ Take Action

As you consistently practice these habits, you'll grow in the Fruit of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Download the latest free, ad-free version of **SpiritFormed Verse & Prayer** and continue your journey of becoming more like Christ—one verse, one prayer, one reflection, and one faithful action at a time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.graceempowermentint.spiritformed

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